Group Play and Quarterfinals are in the record books and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup semifinals are set. The surprise of the tournament, host nation Tahiti, advanced to the semifinals with a 6-1 win over Argentina. With victories in the Group Stage over United Arab Emirates and USA, Tahiti stunned the beach soccer world with a 5-goal outburst in the final period to become the first Oceania nation to advance to a FIFA tournament semifinal.
Tahiti will host Russia in their semifinal after the Russians defeated Iran 6-5. Russia are the defending 2011 World Cup champions.
The second semifinal matchup is between two powers in beach soccer: Brasil and Spain. A 4-time World Cup champion, Brasil rolled through group play with victories over Iran (4-1), Ukraine (4-2), and Senegal (8-3).
Spain had a slightly more difficult road to the semifinals defeating USA (5-4), United Arab Emirates (5-2), Tahiti (4-2) and El Salvador (2-1).
| Match | Date – Time | Venue | Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 25/09 21:00 | Papeete | Brazil | 4:3 (2:1, 0:1, 2:1) |
Japan | ||
| 26 | 25/09 22:30 | Papeete | Argentina | 1:6 (0:1, 1:0, 0:5) |
Tahiti | ||
| 27 | 26/09 00:00 | Papeete | Spain | 2:1 (1:0, 0:1, 1:0) |
El Salvador | ||
| 28 | 26/09 01:30 | Papeete | Russia | 6:5 (1:2, 2:1, 3:2) |
Iran |
| Match | Date – Time | Venue | Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 28/09 01:30 | Papeete | Spain | Preview | Brazil | ||
| 30 | 28/09 00:00 | Papeete | Russia | Preview | Tahiti |
| Match | Date – Time | Venue | Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 29/09 00:00 | Papeete | L29 | – | L30 |
| Match | Date – Time | Venue | Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 29/09 01:30 | Papeete | W29 | – | W30 |
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